Improvement in portable wing-dams



P. EMERsoNK.

Portable Wing Dams.

Patentedlune 16, 1874.

r L a d WL' in ess k/? UNITED STATES PATENT EEIGE.,

PRIMUS EMERSON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JAMES DOYLE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE WING-DAMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 52,092, dated June 1G, 1874; application filed April I6, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IRIMUs EMERSON, of St. Louis, in the'county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented an Improved Iortable Wing-Dam, of which the following is a" specification The objectof this invention is the scouring and washing away of sand, sand-bars, and other impediments from wharves, levees, or landings ot' boats; to dee'pen the water at such places; also to free rivers, channels, and the like, from the formation of sand-bars and the like obstructions, and otherwise to obtain and maintain a suilicient depth ot' water for free navigation. My invention, therefore, is a portablewing-dam, consisting of a dat-boat or vessel provided with wings or dams, operating by gearing, so as to be raised or lowered, as required, said wings or dams being to divide the current ot' water, and concentrate the same, so that by its force and passage it scours, washes, and otherwise removes the accumulation of sand, or sand-bars, or like impediments.

In the drawing, Figure l is a perspective view, showing my invention as applied in use. Fig. 2 is a part rear elevation, showing the gearing connection that operates the dams.

A represents an ordinary flat-boat or vessel. The flat-boat A will be of light draft, so that it can be placed on very shallow water. B are a number ot' side posts or uprights, from which are suspended the posts I3', which are to fasten the boat. Hence the posts B are raised and lowered by suitable rope-and-tackle attachments b, which are operated by the respective. windlass b from the boat, as shown in Fig. l. To secure or fasten the boat A, the posts B are lowered so that their lower ends become fastened and secured in the sand. or bottom ot' the water. Then the posts B are raised, the boat A can be towed to some other place:

In connection with the means above described to anchor and secure the boat A, the same can be provided with an ordinary an chor. A better angular position for placing the boat can thus be had with the use of the anchor.

On the opposite side of the boat A I provide the movable wings or dams C. The dams consist ot' boarded frames secured to side uprights c c1, more clearly shown in Fig. 2; further, I i'orm the dams G-of any number of independent sections, C C102 being the sections shown in drawing. The dams C O1 C2 operate vertically', hence each section of dam I secure to operate between side frames or uprights c2 c3, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

vIn order to guide and facilitate the operation of' the dams C C102, I prefer to form their side frames c c1 to have a tenon itted toengage thel grooves in each of the side frames c2 c, as indicated in, Fig. 1, and shown in Fig. 2. The dams thus arranged slide in the side frames c2 c3, and are held to remain in their true'position; further, in order to raise or lower each dam, I provide cach thereof with rack-bars el, secured to each side frame o c1. Gearing in said racks are pinions d1 on the respective shafts d2, which turn in proper journal-bearings secured to the uprights c2 c3. (See Fig. 2.)

As the dams C CI C2 are sections for themselves, the racks, pinions, and shafts will. be provided for the operation of each section, so that the same, or each dam, can be raised or lowered independently.

- The boat A, thus provided with fasteningposts I3 and dams O C1 O2, is towed to the re quired locality in the river, channel, or Water, and anchored. The dams C CI O2, or any number thereof, are then lowered to the nature of the work required. rlhis accomplished, the dams divide the current, and concentrate the water in the directions to the purpose sought to be accomplished, and that is, the water by its force and passage scours and washes the sand or accumulations from a wharf, landing, or levee. A similar result is produced by positioning the dam or boat for the removal of sand-bars and like impediments that obstruct a channelor navigation.

For the middle of a river, or for purposes where the san d-bars and obstructions are away from the bank, a similar portable wing-dam to the one above described can be used in conjunction, and a further dam or wing hinged to ends of both boats, and operated to lower to a diagonal position, can he provided .so as \\'hat l elaim isto deileet and concentrate in a given channel 1 The combination ofthe dams U U1 C2, gear- I the current of water in the direction toward ing l di d?, and Vessel or boat A, having fast the sand-bar or impediment, and thus e'eetening-posts B', and Windlass attachments bb, its removal, and insure adeepened ehannel to operate as and for the purpose set forth.

for free navigation. In testimony of said invention I have here rlhe dams, being portable, can be removed r unto set my hand.

from one har to another, or to any locality re- PRIMUS EMERSON.

quired, and as the gates or dams operate yer- Yitnessesz tieally they can be adapted to any depth ot' VILLIAM M. HERTHEL,

Water. l JAMES DoYLE. 

